WES MATTHEWS STAYS TRUE TO HIS ROOTS MADISON’ ’ S
The road to the NBA is a long and dif cult one for any young basketball player hoping to make it to the game’s biggest stage. And for Wesley “Wes” Matthews, that road started in Madison. A star at James Madison Memorial High School and then Marquette, Matthews went undrafted before earning a contract with the Utah Jazz in 2009. Matthews then made his way to Portland where he shined for ve years with the Trail Blazers before signing a $70 million contract with the Dallas Mavericks last year. But despite all the accolades and the movement, Matthews says he will always come back to Madison. “I built a house here, my roots are here, many of my same friends are still around here,” Matthews says. “This is home.” Commitment to community strengthening an Achilles tendon he tore in March of 2015, he’s still actively involved in the Madison community. Matthews works with both the Boys and Girls Club and with Big Brothers Big Sisters, and also holds a free basketball camp every summer as a way to connect to the city’s youth. While he’s spent much of the offseason training and
“ We ’ re preparing to start more charity work and bigger events in the years to come. ” - Wes Matthews, Dallas Mavericks guard
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